In Broward County, our population is growing steadily each year. We have more cars on the road than ever before, and therefore more air pollution sources. Emissions from the cars and trucks on our roads - mostly hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide - account for about 50 percent of all air pollution.

Today's cars emit mixtures of compounds that lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is produced by a chemical reaction between sunlight and air pollutants. When conditions are just right, such as when the temperature is hot enough and the sun is strong, ground-level ozone is formed, also known as smog.

Alternative fuels have a number of inherent properties that make them cleaner than conventional gasoline. In general, these fuels emit fewer hydrocarbons, so they are producing less smog. Emissions from electricity, natural gas, or alcohol-powered vehicles can be as much as 90 percent lower in ozone-forming hydrocarbons than emissions from vehicles fueled with conventional gasoline.

The use of alternative fuels could also help slow atmospheric buildup of carbon dioxide, a "greenhouse gas" that contributes to the potential for global warming. These cleaner fuels also have benefits that reach beyond their air quality advantages. New fuels in the marketplace give consumers new choices and could decrease our dependence on imported oil.

Some alternative fuels are not available for the general public, but private and public fleets are currently using them.

Pollution From An "Average" Passenger Car And Light Truck

Pounds of pollution per year, including both tailpipe and fuel-cycle emissions, assuming 12,500 miles per year for a passenger car and 14,000 miles per year for a light truck